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Published on: June 7, 2017
[Surviving handwritten signatures of Ignác Semmelweis]
Abstract:
We know only rather few samples of Semmelweis's handwriting and therefore it is important to carefully preserve those we have. The first collection of his manuscripts was published by Antall et al in 1968. During the following 47 years only rather few further samples of his handwriting have been published. Our present collection completes the former list with two previously unknown letters and with an earlier unpublished document signed by Semmelweis. The first document is a certificate written by Semmelweis in 1854 regarding the age of a woman who delivered her child at Szent Rókus Hospital in Pest. The second document includes a request from the Court of Justice towards the Medical Faculty's of the University of Pest regarding the body's opinion in a case of infanticide. The third document is a registration book of a student at the University of Medicine signed by Semmelweis in 1859. Present work attempts to list all of Semmelweis's handwritings known at this moment. The list includes 29 documents written by Semmelweis and further 16 documents signed by him.
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